What to look for in 5 year old R 1200 GS?

[Venturello]

Hello all! Friends old and new, long time being just a lurker of the board but always keeping the good memories, and always with riding in my heart, now after a 5 year long (wow that long!) hiatus looking now to buy another bike. Looking forward it living now next door to the alps!

 

Went last week and test-rode the new F650GS, F800GS, R1200GS. Notice a pattern? Anyway, 650 is ok but it does feel underpowered, 800 is nice but the boxer, feel, suspension and power of the 1200 is what I was used to and what I like.

 

But want to thread carefully financially and considering instead a used one. Found this bike an hour from home:

 

http://www.motoscout24.ch/AS24Web/MotoDetail.aspx?from=list&navpos=310&wl=1&lng=ger&id=121968

 

June 2005 R1200GS with 27000kms / 16000 miles on it. One owner since new, he has all the dealership maintenance paperwork. Why so low mileage? 'Never had time with the kids to ride'. I can relate! He tells me I can check with BMW the kms the bike had on each service and see how the number is true. Will do that.

 

Going to go tomorrow afternoon to check out the bike. Some questions for the forum:

- Anything specific I should look at when buying a 1200GS that old?

- 2005 R1200GS, any specific problems of that (relatively) new model at that moment?

- Anything overwhelming I will be missing out by not going with a newer model?

 

Budget wise this bike will leave me in a very comfortable position - will be able to get some gadgets, maybe new shocks - so that's good, and sure, would like the gadgetry in the new one (LOVED the feel of the brakes on the 2010 GS) but things like ESA... was no big deal for me - fun but think I would leave it in 'normal' 99% of the time. Not sure if I would buy it (salesman told me they are better shocks than the stock regardless, but I remember reading about the cost of servicing them).

 

So, thoughts on this, any tips, most appreciated. I know some wrenching but newbie, gone 'as far' as doing my valves and not much more.

 

Thanks all!

 

Juan Miguel Venturello

[Venturello]

Alternative would be for example this:

 

http://www.motoscout24.ch/AS24Web/MotoDetail.aspx?from=list&navpos=310&wl=1&lng=ger&id=125949

 

May 2007 R1200GS with 37000 kms. 2000 dollars more. That if I remember correctly, is the new model updated to new brakes (Integral ABS II), etc. Worthwhile?

[Paul Mihalka]

Bienvenido de regreso, Juan Miguel! I have a 2005 R1200GS bought 3 years ago with 9K miles, now has over 100k. Excellent bike, nothing specific I can think of to look out for. The lack of servo brakes on the 2007 is nice and a bit of less maintenance but I had absolutely no trouble with my brakes. If the two bikes are in similar condition and money is important, I don't see a $2.000 advantage between the two.

Nice riding in Switzerland!

 

[tallman]

Juan,

Riding again.

1200 GS

Pictures?

Best wishes.

[glockster]

Juan.....I have nothing to add to this thread but felt the need to say hello anyways. Has it really been 5 years??

 

[SageRider]

Welcome back!

Holy Cr@p!!! Time flies!!!

[Marty Hill]

International tech day in november..Chris??

 

Ola Juan.

[Chris K]

Welcome back Juan! Come on over in Nov. and you can learn all the maintenance on my 1200GS! The admission fee is still only a bottle of wine!

[Ken H.]

Also have an ’05 R1200GS, it’s been fairly bullet proof. (No thanks to me having crashed the bike and the motor along with it once.)

 

About the biggest thing about the ’05 & ’06 (North American model years) vs. the ’07 and newer is the servo assist brakes. And only in that they are a bit higher maintenance. If the bike(s) have documentation of the ABS having been serviced according to schedule, I’d say – no worries.

 

Most ever other differences are not major significant.

 

 

Wow, 5-years, has it REALLY been that long!?! Seems like only a few months ago we were talking you through a repair of a crashed RS. (I think was.)

 

[RideOregon]

Also have an 'O5 with 45,000 miles. No issues. A great bike, although I am selling mine to buy an RT. Juan, I'll be renting a GS out of Thun in early September.